Episode 1: Nightshade The Shy Black Stallion
(Nightshade) will they soon know me? could somepony show me?
(ahhhhhh, young Mystic Pony.)
I used to know just what friendship could be. until my past caught up with me.
(Blaze) We'll remind you!
(Glimmer Spark) Never fear!
(Applejack) It's in your heart.
(Buck) You've got us here.
(Fluttershy) we'll show you kindness.
(Glimmer Spark) it's a simple task
(Nightshade) and all I need to do is ask!
(young mystic pony)
could you be my very best friends?
it was a bright, shining day in Equestria. Celestia was doing what she does best, making the sun shine it's brightest. through a field outside of Ponyville walked three stallions. An old dark green stallion with a grey mane and beard that remained unruly and a pick-axe cutiemark, a rather large red stallion with a solid black mane and three burst marks for a cutiemark, and of course the youngest of the three: Nightshade. The black coated, Mystic Pony with the Microphone and Peach cutiemark. These three are part of the Peaches Family who live in Ponyville. The old stallion is of course, Grandaddy Peaches. He's the grandfather of the two younger ponies and a former prospector, while The larger red stallion is Nightshade's brother, Buck Peaches.
"hoo-wee! it sure is nice gettin' back to our roots eh boys?" Grandaddy said stretching.
Buck took a deep breath of fresh air and exhaled slowly. "sure as shootin'. What ya think there Nightshade?" Buck asked looking back at his brother.
Nightshade simply looked at his family and nodded with a small smile.
"Well, time to head on back to Smilin' Peach Acres! C'mon there boys!" Grandaddy said happily.
Following their grandfather's lead, the young stallions headed into town.
"You boys hang 'round town fer now. I need to check on the farm to make sure it's still in good shape." Grandaddy told his grandsons.
"Sure thing. We'll be around!" Buck said Cheerfully.
Nightshade nodded to his grandfather to show he understood.
Grandaddy then smiled and walked off to the family farm.
"Hey little brother, You feelin' okay? You ain't said much to either of us lately." Buck asked his younger brother, clearly concerned.
"I'm fine Buck... just not sure about being back in town..." Nightshade said in a bit of whisper.
Buck chuckled a little. "Oh, is that all? Well, I can understand that I guess. I mean we've been gone for so long it must seem so unfamiliar now. Tell ya what, why don't ya head over to the market and find some lunch. I saved some bits I earned, so you take 'em and get some grub."
Nightshade smiled and took the bits from his older brother.
"All right. I'll be back in a bit Buck!" Nightshade said softly before walking off into the market.
"That boy's changed." a deep voice said.
"hm?" Buck turned to see his old friend Big Macintosh standing next to him. "Well! if it ain't good old Macintosh! how ya been bud?" Buck asked, happy to see a familiar face.
"Busy, but not too bad really. and yourself?" Macintosh replied smiling
"Just got back into town today, so I'm a tad tired. Plus Nightshade's gone silent lately, and that makes me worry." Buck said with a hint of fear in his voice.
"Like I said Buck. Your brother has changed. That boy ain't like I remember him... he's lost that smile he had, and that spark of life I used to see in his eyes... what in Equestria happened?" Macintosh asked, slightly concerned.
Buck looked down at the ground sadly.
"His past caught up with him... all the bullying, leavin' home, movin' around, growin' up without friends.... it took a mighty big toll on my little brother..." Buck answered sadly. "I wish we had another option at the time... but we did what we had to so we could stay a family..."
Macintosh lowered his brow slightly. "Y'all had another option. Why didn't ya leave Nightshade with us? Then he wouldn't be like this today." he said sternly.
the dark maned stallion looked up at his friend, clearly upset. "We couldn't do that.... we trust y'all, but Nightshade would've been a bit much for ya to handle...."
Big Mac chuckled slightly. "you're forgettin' who yer talkin' to here Buck. I watched after Applejack as she grew up, and Apple Bloom's a major handful herself. Ain't nothin' I can't handle."
Buck shook his head. "no Mac.... you don't get it.... Nightshade has been tryin' to learn how to use his powers.... we couldn't leave him here because he's destroy everything.... I love mah brother.... but...."
Macintosh was getting angry by this point. "listen to you. you're makin' excuses! the Buck Peaches I knew never made excuses to avoid an issue... what's happened to you?...."
Buck sighed and lifted up his vest, revealing nasty burns and scars. "this here is what happens when Nightshade loses control... he's reckless and his powers are a risk.... I couldn't put y'all through that...."
Macintosh was astonished by these marks. "you're brother did that?.... why?..... he seemed so much more innocent than that..."
"he never meant to...." Buck said after a short pause. "he just lost it when he tried to head back here on his own.... I tried to stop him, but boy.... those attacks HURT..... luckily Grandaddy talked some sense into him...."
for a time, neither stallion spoke.... they just looked in the direction that Nightshade had walked....
End of Chapter One.
